Without a doubt, the most common set of questions that readers ask us all have to do with finding the best way how to get cat pee out of carpet. That’s why I’ve put together this handy guide for removing cat urine stains and odors from the carpet and rugs at home.

I have lived and worked with cats my entire life. I’ve loved every single one of them, and for the most part (there has been a few exceptions) they have all been great, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t run into my fair share of issues with inappropriate urination over the years.

Having to clean up cat pee is never fun, but the worst instances always occur when it’s on carpet. Figuring out effective ways how to get cat pee out of carpet can be tough; it took me years to get a process that actually works down pat. That’s why I decided to write this article: to share my experiences and the techniques that I’ve found have worked for me when trying to get cat pee out of carpet.

The Most Effective Solution for Inappropriate Urination

Cat pee is a pain – it will stain your carpet, furniture, and walls, cause unpleasant odors to linger around your home, and oftentimes can cause respiratory and other breathing issues – sometimes even serious health problems. That’s why the absolute best way how to get cat pee out of carpet, and keep it out in the future, is to stop your cat’s spraying issues altogether.

But for fighting urine marks and stains right now, there are a number of simple steps that you can take to negate and get rid of unsightly spots and unflattering odors.

Finding the Stain

Before you can begin to treat the cat pee, you have to first locate the stain. Sometimes this is easy: some cats go to the bathroom in the open where you can quickly find the spot. Other cats choose to go behind furniture and in corners, making it far more difficult to track down the source of the odor.

Do you find yourself constantly smelling the scent of cat pee, but aren’t sure exactly where it’s coming from? The single best way to find difficult-to-see urine spots is with the aid of a UV flashlight. These ultraviolet light rays reflect off of the chemicals in cat urine, causing hidden spots to glow when the light is shined directly on them. This makes hard-to-find spots easy to notice, no matter where they are in your home.

Treating the Stain

First things first, if it’s a fresh stain (i.e. not a urine spot which has been sitting all day or overnight), use a small bundle of absorbent paper towels to soak up as much of the excess cat pee out of the carpet as possible.

For actually treating the spot itself, the single strongest tool that you can have in your arsenal is a good enzyme cleaner. These enzymatic cleaners contain a type of helpful bacteria which feeds off of the organic compounds in cat urine. This causes the bacteria to completely consume the offending stain. Then, once the urine is gone and there’s no more food for the bacteria to process, the microscopic bacterium dry up and disappear, essentially leaving your carpet good as new.

Enzyme Cleaner Directions: Simply spray the enzyme cleaner solution onto the affected area of your carpet. Lightly scrub the cleaner in with a gentle brush to ensure full coverage of the affected area, and then just sit back and let the good bacteria take care of the rest.

For an added level of protection once the enzymatic cleaner is all dried up, it doesn’t hurt to vacuum the spot and then lightly spritz the area with an odor-masking spray like Feliway to further reduce the likelihood that the cat – or another feline in your household – will reoffend in the same spot in the future.

DIY Alternatives for Cat Urine in Carpet

Personally, I’ve found that using an enzyme cleaner is the most effective way how to get cat pee out of carpet, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only option that you have. There are a number of other DIY alternatives that many cat owners swear by, although I have noticed that they don’t work nearly as well as a strong dose of urine-eating bacteria for permanently removing the stains and odors associate with cat urine.

Some other DIY ways how to get cat pee out of carpet include:

Preventing Reoccurrences

Mixing a solution of ½ vinegar and ½ warm water helps to cut the scent of cat urine out of carpet, making it less pungent in the air and also making it less likely that the cat will return to the same spot in the future. Some people aren’t necessarily fans of the smell of vinegar, however, so it’s worth noting that this treatment will likely cause the vinegar odor to linger around for some time.

Absorbing Fresh Cat Urine Stains

Baking soda is a another great treatment for fresh urine spots as it can quickly help soak up any excess moisture left behind after applying a handful of paper towels and some pressure for a couple of minutes. Baking soda can be messy, however, and this technique only works on fresh spots – it won’t help with stains which are already dry and have set into the fibers of the carpet.

If you decide to go this route, make sure to note that it’s important to use a wet vac or shop vac to suck up the baking soda once it’s absorbed the cat urine. Your typical household vacuum cleaner probably isn’t built to pick up liquids or even the moist baking soda that’s clumping together. If you try to vacuum up the spot with a regular vacuum, you’re likely going to find yourself taking it apart for extensive cleaning afterwards, or possibly even being forced to throw it away altogether.

Scrubbing Solution

Another home remedy for cat urine spots involves mixing ½ cup of peroxide with a teaspoon of dish soap to create a mixture that you can use to scrub away both wet and dry urine stains. This mix can be an effective way how to get cat pee out of carpet, but it may not necessarily help prevent future reoccurrences in the same spot. Also, make sure to use caution when applying peroxide to your carpet – always test a small inconspicuous spot first to ensure it doesn’t cause any permanent bleaching or discoloration.

How to Get Cat Pee Out of Carpet

Here is a handy and concise guide with step-by-step instructions of the best way how to get cat pee out of carpet:

Cats are cute. Who can deny it? With their big glossy eyes, furry little (sometimes big) ears, cute heart-shaped noses, and affectionate purring, there’s not much about kitties not to love. But unfortunately, there are times when their cuteness quickly disappears from your eyes. Including those times when you find that the living room smells unpleasantly similar to cat urine.

Yep. It’s quite the theft of your cat’s charm. To make it even worse, your feline seems to be peeing more than most.

Why is my cat peeing everywhere, you ask?

Here are some possible causes for you to consider, and hopefully you’ll be able to retain the adoration you have for your animal friend.

Medical Issue

It’s possible that it’s not necessarily something that your poor kitty is able to control, such as some sort of medical condition or sickness. It could be a urinary tract infection, kidney failure, or a number of other things that only a veterinarian can officially identify and help you solve. For this reason, take the little guy to the vet for a checkup before looking into other possible causes.

Litter Box Discontentment

Now it may seem like a simple issue at first glance, but it’s really quite complex. Your kitty cat is much pickier than you’d expect, which means you’ve got more possible problems with your litter box than you might’ve anticipated.

First of all, it could be the type of litter box itself. Got one of those boxes that have a cover on top? You can bet your cat’s not cool with it. Why? Think about it. Do you really enjoy port-a-potties? Didn’t think so. In fact, you probably hold it as long as necessary just to avoid that stink-house. Your cat feels the same way about that covered litter box, as it traps all the smell within it and makes it difficult for the soiled litter to dry.

Simple fix: get a box that’s uncovered (and longer than the length of your cat). It’ll work wonders.

Clean the Box Frequently

In addition, you definitely want to ask yourself how often you clean your cat’s litter box. Every other day just doesn’t cut it. If someone in your household decided they didn’t want to flush the toilet for a couple of days and you were powerless to flush it yourself, you might consider another spot, too. Make sure to scoop out the dirty bits every day, and give the litter box a deep clean with water and unscented soap every one or two weeks. If this is the problem, you’ll see a difference in no time.

Mix Up the Litter

Another possible cause is that your kitty isn’t so fond of the type of litter in his box. If it doesn’t feel good on his paws, he’s not a happy camper. Cats generally seem to like clumping or clay litter the most, so that’s the way to go if you haven’t already. Also keep in mind that their sense of smell is much more sensitive than yours. You might love that pine-scented litter, but your kitten is probably avoiding that litter box because of it. Keep it simple and unscented if you don’t want your cat peeing in house.

Lastly, it’s crucial that you have at least one more litter box than the number of cats you have in your home, and to place them in different areas (and on different floors) of the house. This way your kitty’s got some options, and he’ll never have to go too far out of the way to relieve himself.

Why Is My Cat Peeing Everywhere?

Figuring out exactly why your cat is peeing everywhere takes a bit of investigation and trial and error, but it’s a win-win when you do it. Save yourself from a chronicle of unpleasant odors and restore your cat’s cuteness by resolving this problem for good.

Being a cat owner is a package deal. When you sign up for it, you’re agreeing to deal with every aspect of the pet parent life, from playing with your kitty, to snuggling with her, and to cleaning up her messes. Unfortunately, cleaning up her accidents can be a frequent duty, and it’s even worse when it seems like there are still traces of urine smell in different parts of the house. Yeah—not so enjoyable. We understand the struggle, so we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to clean cat urine from various surfaces.

How to Clean Cat Urine from Couch

Cleaning up cat urine on any piece of furniture before it dries is especially crucial, because it can soak deep down in there, even as far as the frame. Use some paper towels to soak up as much pee as possible, and then soak it with enzymatic cleaner. Cover it loosely with something like aluminum foil that will protect it from your cat’s meddling and let others know not to sit on it, and let it be for 10 to 15 minutes.

If the smell isn’t gone by the next day, repeating this process is a great idea! You can also try using the homemade solutions that you use when cleaning the carpet, and see if that helps with the odor.

How to Clean Cat Urine from Mattress

Follow the same steps as you do when cleaning the carpet, except for the wet vac step. Let is sit and dry with a fan directly hitting it and the windows open. Shut the door so that your cat can’t return to the spot!

How to Clean Cat Urine from Carpet

You’ll first need some paper towels or a rag you’re not attached to. Press down on the soiled area, soaking up as much urine as you can. Then, get your handy-dandy enzymatic cleaner and follow the instructions on the bottle closely.

Create a solution composed of equal parts vinegar and water, and pour it over the area. Grab your box of baking soda and sprinkle it generously over the spot.

Now, make another solution that’s made up of a ½ a cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of dish detergent. Drench the soiled area with this solution and give it a good scrub! Last, you’ll need a wet vac to remove all the chemicals and urine particles, and voilà! Success!

How to Clean Cat Urine from Hardwood Floor

This process is a little more complex because hardwood floors can be ruined if you’re not careful. First, wipe the puddle with an old rag, and use multiple if necessary. Before using any old cleaning solution that you have, do a little research to see what chemicals are safe for the type of wood your floor is, and make sure that the cleaner is specifically for cleaning up pet urine.

Test is on a small, unnoticeable area of your floor before using it to clean the spot so you can ensure that it won’t do any damage. After finding and using the cleaner, damp another old rag with that trusty hydrogen peroxide and water concoction, and cover the spot with it. Let it sit for couple hours (or if necessary, overnight), and then remove any liquid that’s left over.

Lastly, cover it with baking soda to finish soaking up any remaining dampness, and then clean it up and let the spot dry some more.

How to Clean Cat Urine from Clothes

The first step in this case is to soak your clothes with cold water in a bucket. Pour in 2 to 3 cups of white vinegar, and let it be for at least two hours. Dump the water outside or in the toilet, ring the clothes free of liquid (with gloves, of course), and throw them into the washer with a load of detergent.

Take them out and give them a good sniff to see if the cat pee smell is gone. If so, let them air dry. If not, put them in the washer again, but with detergent and enzymatic cleaner. That should do the trick!

The better you know how to clean cat urine, the less likely she is to return and repeat the process. Now that you know how to clean cat urine from multiple surfaces, we hope you can get back to the more pleasant aspects of caring for your furry little friend!

When you first got your kitten, you probably thought he was just an adorable little ball of fur that loved to play, cuddle, and eat. These are true without a doubt, but he’s got a little more intelligence than you thought. In fact, he’s a pro at communication—well, at attempting to communicate. Unfortunately, it’s often in a not-so-pleasant way for you, and it’s definitely not immediately clear to you either. Do male cats spray? Why yes, they do.

Besides meowing, spraying is an incredibly common way that male cats communicate, which means you’ve got some pretty awful odors, cleaning, and investigating to endure. Here are some important tidbits on the subject that are crucial for you to know.

Spraying vs. Inappropriate Urination

Spraying is different in quite a few ways from your cat simply peeing outside of the box. While inappropriate urination can result from some of the same factors as spraying, it’s very different in that it’s usually a spot containing much more urine.

A spraying incident (aka urine marking) is more like a splatter, and you’ll find it on vertical surfaces, not horizontal, such as the side of a piece of furniture or the walls.

With inappropriate urination, this will be on a horizontal surface, such as the floor or the cushion of a piece of furniture. From there, you’ll have a better idea of how to narrow down the cause and solution.

Causes & Solutions for Male Cat Spraying

One possible cause of your little guy spraying is simply that he’s unneutered. Like a young boy, his hormones are going a little wacko, causing him to instinctively spray without hesitation in different circumstances.

One circumstance is that he sees a cute female kitty through the window, or maybe there’s one in the house that he’s attracted to, and he’s trying to attract them as a mate. There’s that communication we’re talking about! The solution is pretty simple: get him neutered.

If you do this by the time he’s at least six months old, there’s a solid chance this will completely end his urine marking habit.

If your kitty sees a neighborhood cat strolling around outside, he might become protective and spray right there, marking his territory as instinct. Simply close the blinds or curtains so that he can’t see these cats when they come around.

Sibling Rivalry?

Another possibility is that he’s not the only cat in the house, and he doesn’t get along with them so well. When cats feel threatened by or dislike each other, they all spray to mark their territory and let others know that this is their part of the house.

If your felines don’t seem to get along, work to create a positive relationship between them by playing with them. Positive experiences make for positive memories and good friends, right? The better their relationship with one another, the less likely they’ll to desire to mark their territory. No more spraying in this house!

Lastly, cats can become stressed when there’s a significant change within the household, even if it’s just a new piece of furniture! In this case, create positive experiences in those changed areas so that they feel more secure and at ease in them. If the change has to do with your schedule and you’re away from home longer than usual, provide more outlets for him to have fun while you’re gone, and make that time with him count! If it’s because someone new has moved in, foster a good relationship between the new house member and your kitty cat.

Do Male Cats Spray?

So you’re right—your cat is definitely a wondrous little pet that brings you much joy and entertainment, but he’s more intelligent than you thought. Do male cats spray? Yes, for a number of for various reasons, and it’s their way of trying to communicate with you or with other kitties. Be on the lookout for different possible causes, and you’ll be sure to reduce his urine marking!

So, there’s a new family member in the house: your cute new girl kitty, Princess, who you recently brought home for your daughter’s ten-year-old birthday. She’s got a delicate pink nose, kiwi-green eyes, a dark grey coating, and adorably large ears for her size. She really couldn’t be more precious. But there’s one thing: you keep finding splatters of pee around the house, and they smell abnormally bad. What in the world is going on? How could such a precious little face do such a smelly thing? Do female cats spray?

Here’s the thing: female cats do indeed spray, despite what you’ve heard (or would like to believe).

What Is Urine Marking?

That spot of pee that you found smells horrid because it’s a urine marking, not just inappropriate urination. The urine that a cat releases when spraying (also called urine marking) contains chemicals that give it an extra poignant smell. It’s true—male cats are generally the culprit when it comes to spraying, but there’s a small percentage of girl cats who share in the nasty habit.

You can also be sure that it’s an act of spraying and not simply inappropriate urination if the spot is found on a vertical object.

Why Is My Female Cat Spraying?

There are plenty of reasons as to why precious little Princess may be spraying, and knowing the possible reasons can help lead you to the solution. If you have multiple cats living in your home and she’s not too fond of them, or even if you’ve got a new piece of furniture in the living room, she’s probably trying to mark her territory. It’s her way of letting the rest of the felines in the humble abode know that she’s the owner of that area, and they better not trespass.

Another possibility is that she’s attempting to let her a male kitty know that she’s ready for some reproduction. Male cats are known to do this more often, but even sweet Princess might partake in this, too. Consider it her pick-up line, but with something that unfortunately smells awful to you but normal to her.

Some other causes of your girl cat spraying could also be that she’s stressed out. Maybe you’ve recently moved to a new house, or maybe you’ve been gone for longer time than usual due to a change in your schedule. Little Princess is definitely feeling it, and she’s taking it out on your walls, plants, and stools. It’s her trying to establish some sense of security by marking more of her territory. Yikes.

Another possibility is that she’s perched on the window sill and sees another cat waltzing around outside. Her instinct is to become protective over her house, and again, mark her territory.

How to Stop Female Cats from Spraying

So what are some ways to stop this chaotic behavior? One option is to get your girl cat spayed. It may seem a little harsh (and pricey), but this is a step that’s been consistently proven to be effective. Make sure, though, that this is done by the time she’s about six months old, because it will be hard to conquer her habit if you do it any later!

Another way is to cover the windows so that she’s not triggered to mark her territory when she sees a stranger-kitty through the window. If you suspect that the problem is a result of inter-kitten conflict, then be intentional about creating a positive relationship between them by playing with them together, investing in more litter boxes, and giving them all an equal amount of attention. No room for favoritism here!

Do Female Cats Spray?

Now that you know that female cats spray too, you’ve got some serious work to do, because there’s no turning back. Your daughter’s fallen in love with little Princess, and you’ve grown a bit attached, too. Do female cats spray? Yes, they can, but don’t let her spraying be a damper on her cuteness, and get to solving the issue!

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